Luke Greenbank has commented for the first time on his disqualification at the Olympic Games.

The Cumbrian swimmer says he is "gutted" at what happened in Wednesday's men's 200m backstroke heats.

But the Cockermouth star has pledged to come back stronger from his disappointment at Paris 2024.

Greenbank, after a dominant victory in his heat, fell foul of the rule which says swimmers cannot be under water for more than 15 metres at certain stages of the race.

The 26-year-old looked crestfallen when he learned of his disqualification moments after the heat, where he had recorded the fastest time of all the competitors in qualifying.

He has now addressed the situation with a post on Instagram.

"Can’t really put into words how gutted I am with yesterday’s DQ," Greenbank wrote.

"Win or lose I’ve always been my own harshest critic but sometimes you’ve just got to take it as it comes.

"I can take pride in the fact that I know I was in great shape coming into these games after a tough few years, but this will motivate me to come back stronger.

"On a lighter note, best of luck to the rest of the @teamgb athletes competing over the rest of the games."

Greenbank, a double medallist in the previous Games in Tokyo, came into Paris in good form.

The man who started out at Cockermouth Swimming Club looked set for a positive campaign when he led the way in heat four on Wednesday.

But his medal hopes in France were duly dashed. Pundits such as Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe have had their say on his disqualification, which followed Greenbank being submerged for more than 15m after the final turn at the 150m mark.

Thorpe, speaking via Australian broadcaster Nine, said: "It wasn’t just a little bit, it was a significant amount past [the mark].

“That is well past that mark and there is no need for that in a 200 metres.

"Perhaps in a 50-metre race you might take the chance, but in a 200 metres there is no benefit.

“You can see how devastated he is after the race.”